Ford Bronco

2011 SEMA: Ford's 8 Sweetest SEMA Vehicles

Ford is well-represented at this year’s SEMA show in Las Vegas. There are quite literally Fords in every direction you look, with everything from modified Fiestas, to F-650s being represented. Ford also had two large displays of its own, including a huge outdoor display featuring live demonstrations from Ken Block, Tanner Foust, Brian Deegan, and Vaughn Gittin Jr (more on that later), and an exhibition hall-wide display in doors. However out of the countless Fords we saw, these next eight are the ones most worth your time.

Ford F-350 Super Duty by Superlift SuspensionsShow me a car enthusiast who never played with Matchbox cars when they were a child and I’ll show you a liar. This Ford F-350 by Superlift Suspensions represents everything enthusiasts loved in their childhood toys, and makes it life sized. The Superlift Suspensions F-350 gets a loud Matchbox orange paint job, large black and yellow bumpers, and an exterior roll cage. If that’s not enough for you, the Superlift F-250 also gets diamond-plated firefighter gear mounted where its bed should be. Five-year old me would have loved this thing, and I’m willing to bet I’m not alone in saying that.

Ford Mustang GT by ForgiatoMost Mustangs on display at SEMA fall into one of two categories: pretty-freaking-sweet, and ruined. This Mustang falls into the former. The Mustang GT by Forgiato takes the muscley and loud standard 5.0 Mustang, and turns it into a sleek and elegant, almost European-looking ride. The Mustang GT by Forgiato starts with a 3dCarbon body kit, which is then modified to be the wide-bodied pony we see here. The Forgiato Mustang a gorgeous matte silver finish. The interior is equally as elegant as the exterior, with quilted leather stitching on both the Mustang’s seats, and door panels. Unlike many Mustangs on display at SEMA, this Mustang isn’t all show and no go; under the ram air hood sits a 5.0-liter V-8 with a Vortech Supercharger and JBA headers bolted to it. Nice.

Aaron Vaccar Signature Series Ford Fiesta SE HatchbackThere were a slew of pint-sized Fiestas on display at SEMA, but this is one of the few that really caught our eye. The Aaron Vaccar Signature Series Fiesta features a mostly stock powertrain (with the requisite cold air intake and catback exhaust being the only modifications) but that’s not what grabbed our attention. What drew us to this particular Fiesta is its clean body kit, and massive six-piston Wildwood brakes. Aside from the big brake kit, the matte-silver Aaron Vaccar Signature Series Fiesta gets lowered visually by its 3dCarbon body kit, and physically by Megan Racing coilovers. Completing the package are carbon fiber door-mounted and rally inspired side view mirrors.

Hajek Motorsports Ford F-250 Super Duty Salt Flat RacerWe’ve seen the Hajek Motorsports F-250 Salt Flat Racer before, but SEMA was our first chance to see the record breaking truck in person. For those who don’t recall (or couldn’t be bothered clicking on a link), Hajek Motorsports’ F-250 set three production diesel truck records at the Bonneville Salt Flats, ultimately topping out at an astounding 182 mph. Yes, 182 mph in a mostly stock heavy duty pickup truck. We use the term “stock” lightly here; while we weren’t able to peek under the Hajek Motorsports F-250’s hood, we do know that the 6.7-liter turbodiesel engine has at the very least gotten new turbos, fuel injectors, and compression ratio. Nonetheless, 182 mph in a pickup truck is quite an astonishing accomplishment.

Roush Ford Focus SE HatchbackRoush is well-known for its custom Mustangs, but if this Roush Ford Focus is any indication, Roush is looking to expand into some of the smaller vehicles in Ford’s lineup. The Roush Focus starts with a stock Focus SE five-door, and then instead of swapping in an EcoBoost mill, Roush just boosts it old-school. Bolted on top of the Focus’ stock 2.0-liter I-4 is a Roush built and Eaton designed supercharger. Stopping comes courtesy of 13-inch 4-piston Stoptech brakes. Completing the Roush Focus package is Roush-designed body trim, and 19-inch black painted BBS wheels.

Ford Five Hundred GT-R by Washtenaw Community CollegeWe must admit, we judged a book by its cover when I first saw this Five Hundred while walking through the SEMA showcase, and was going to lump it in to the “why bother?” category. But then we took a closer look, and we’re glad we did. Created by Washtenaw Community College, the Ford Five Hundred GT-R very obviously takes its visual cues from the Ford GT. While the ridiculous red and black paint job is what initially drew us to the Five Hundred GT-R, what got us drooling was its powerplant; the Five Hundred GT-R is powered by a 5.4-liter supercharged V-8, just like the GT. Making the Five Hundred GT-R even cooler is where its engine is placed. No, it’s not up front where the old V-6 went (a radiator and fuel cell can be found there), its mounded mid-ship, and it drives the Five Hundred GT-R’s rear wheels. Why go through all the trouble of essentially creating a GT supercar from a Five Hundred sedan? Well, why not?

Ford Fiesta SE Hatchback by Gold Coast AutomotiveThe Fiesta SE Hatchback by Gold Coast Automotive is one of the few race-ready vehicles that Ford was showing off at its booth this year, not to mention the only one that looked easy enough to piece together in Forza Motorsport 4. The Gold Coast Fiesta’s interior is stripped, caged, and prepped to race with a six-point harness, racing seat, and racing wheel. Gold Coast Automotive also swaps in a new ECU, and bolts a Jackson Racing supercharger to the Fiesta’s 1.6-liter I-4. Completing the race-ready package are H&R coilover springs, Wildwood brakes, 17-inch Kyowa Racing wheels and Hankook racing tires.

Icon Ford BroncoWe first got all hot and bothered by the Icon Ford Bronco last month when Icon head Jonathan Ward let us know the Coyote-hearted Bronco would be debuting at this year’s SEMA show. Having seen the restored Bronco in the flesh, we can’t wait to get behind the wheel. In person, the Icon Bronco looks every bit like it belongs in an art museum. Icon did a fantastic job of preserving the original 1960’s Bronco’s iconic design, while still giving it a unique and ultra-modern look. Built from an original Bronco donor, the Icon Bronco gets a satin finish, new off-road parts, and a 5.0-liter V-8 straight from a Ford Racing crate, producing 412-hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. Interested? You’re in luck, because unlike many of the cars shown off here at SEMA, Icon will sell you one of its reworked Broncos for the paltry sum of $150,000.